CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mecklenburg County's sales tax could soon become the highest in the state. This November, voters will decide if the county's sales tax will be raised to 7.5 percent.
Tuesday night, county commissioners passed the referendum that voters will be voting on this fall.
If it passes, community members will not only be paying a higher tax rate, but they will be paying the tax on more items. These items could include movie tickets, Panthers games, concerts or museums.
This extra sales tax would pay for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools teacher raises, Central Piedmont Community College salaries, the Arts and Science Council, and public libraries.
It makes for a tougher choice for voters who would have to approve a new tax on themselves.
Some said it's a small price to pay to help teachers but the extra tax would be on extra items.
Teacher Chlleia Ray has seen her fellow teachers leave because of low pay.
"We do want to have enough to support our families and have to have two jobs," Ray said.
Some see any new tax as a government overreach while others said they would be willing to pay more on more purchases for teachers.
There are some exceptions that won't be taxed differently, including tickets to grade school-sponsored events, certain nonprofit festivals that last up to seven days and Little League sports.
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